1. Semester

The module covers a range of soft skills ranging from scientific communication and presentation, intercultural and language competencies, up to the competent use of modern media. It provides cross-sectional skills and understanding needed for carrying out scientific work as well as for entering a professional career.
The basic scientific skills on the Master level include vocal presentation techniques, and scientific principles on reading, writing and working. The teaching approach is a very interactive one: Samples of scientific presentations are analysed and discussed, impulse lectures are given, and examples of scientific work are outlined by case studies. Media competence is achieved in lectures with practical exercises (partially group work). As a project, each student has to prepare and give a presentation to verify the gained presentation skills. The student himself has to guide the discussion with the audience. Feedback is given by the lecturers and students after the presentation.
Regarding the use of the Internet the different ways of professional communication and presentation are discussed. Students are taught by lectures and practical exeexercises to present oneself and own competencies with standard technologies, i. e., HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript. (5 SWS)
The objective of the intercultural training part is to handle diversity in a group of students who will work together for 18 months in the course program. Thus this part is organized as a weekend seminar at the beginning of each new batch. Cultural diversity will be discussed by simulated activities, case studies, critical incidents, role playing, lecture input, group discussions.
To work on a thesis project externally, to do an internship, or to start a professional career in a context where English or the mother tongue is not the main language, good language skills are necessary. This holds true for international students as well for German students. Thus a foreign language is taught in a modern communicative manner using this language itself as a mean for communication. By its initiation, the learner moves to the center of the teaching.